Midterm course reflection - Music 1800
So far this music education class has really opened up my thought. I used to attend lectures by sitting there, retaining the knowledge and not asking questions on how it was delivered to me. Now where ever I go whether it is a lecture, a guest speaker, or private lesson I pay more attention to the education style then ever before. So far I have defiantly confronted a few differences of opinion on certain pedagogies but that is something I would love to discuss further one on one with the professor. Not in a hostile way but from an educational standpoint. Personally I really enjoy having discussions with different opinions. One, so I can learn from their point of view and not reject their ideas but possibly incorporate them into mine. Second, it forces you to really think about your pedagogies/ideas and what evidence you have, what the backbone of that idea is. One of my favourite parts of this class so far is I feel like it’s an open environment where I can express my opinions (this reflection for example) in an open environment. Again, not for the purpose of challenging an idea for the sake of saying no but in a way that helps you expand your personal thought by questioning everything you once knew.
As someone with teaching experience I am finding this course very eye opening. There are certain styles I have used that I realize were counterintuitive. I would like to make it clear I was never mean to the students and never let out anger but there were defiantly some questionable decisions. I have now implemented new pedagogies in situations as simple as sectional and I’ve defiantly seen some different responses (for the better). I am now interested in seeing where this could go with younger students, where the majority of my experience is. Younger musicians tend to be much less focused and tend to not have developed ears, making it more challenging for them to hear mistakes and knowing how to fix them. I now feel confident that if given the opportunity I could provide a positive environment filled with laughter and an overall goal to get these kids hooked on music.
As someone with teaching experience I am finding this course very eye opening. There are certain styles I have used that I realize were counterintuitive. I would like to make it clear I was never mean to the students and never let out anger but there were defiantly some questionable decisions. I have now implemented new pedagogies in situations as simple as sectional and I’ve defiantly seen some different responses (for the better). I am now interested in seeing where this could go with younger students, where the majority of my experience is. Younger musicians tend to be much less focused and tend to not have developed ears, making it more challenging for them to hear mistakes and knowing how to fix them. I now feel confident that if given the opportunity I could provide a positive environment filled with laughter and an overall goal to get these kids hooked on music.
End of Term Reflection - Music 1800
I have learned a tremendous amount this semester, not just about music education but about myself and the type of educator I would like to be. Throughout this semester I have come to one big conclusion. As educators we need to constantly be adapting to what ever student walks through your door. I want to follow in the footsteps of my high school teacher by creating a safe environment. According to Angela Maccaroni by doing this it will reduce behaviour problems, increase productivity, and create strong relationships. Even though I have a pretty good idea on what my pedagogy is there is still a lot of work to go. I do believe as a high school teacher your end goal is to help your students become independent learners. In doing this you should create a caring environment where support is always provided while not handing everything to the students. A good example of what I want to provide for my students is in private lessons with Dr. Jill Ball she provides you with the skills/tools for success and once she's done that it’s your job to fix as many problems as you can. She still teaches and answers questions when I’m really stuck but she frequently mentions that her job is guide me along the path towards becoming an independent learner. Theoretically when I graduate, I shouldn’t need a teacher because I know how to find the answer.
One aspect of this course that has made it truly unique is the amount of guest lecturers. I think this is a great way to see different perspectives on a variety of issues. We have been fortunate enough to learn from educators who teach all around the world. An underlying theme of this semester is, there is never one way to do something. Listening/reading so many different perspectives on particular issues really helps expand your own pedagogy. For example, one week we had a reading on teaching improvisation and a guest lecture from Dr. Kevin Watson, also on improvisation. Two different ways of approaching the same subject. The reading was based off of playing around with scales, compared to the lecture which was basing a solo off the melody, all done by ear with no notation.
To try and sum up my thoughts, this course has really taught me to not just look outside the box but on all sides. Never sit still as an educator, always making an effort to your methods, creativity in the classroom, or creating bonds with students.
- Andrew Robichaud
One aspect of this course that has made it truly unique is the amount of guest lecturers. I think this is a great way to see different perspectives on a variety of issues. We have been fortunate enough to learn from educators who teach all around the world. An underlying theme of this semester is, there is never one way to do something. Listening/reading so many different perspectives on particular issues really helps expand your own pedagogy. For example, one week we had a reading on teaching improvisation and a guest lecture from Dr. Kevin Watson, also on improvisation. Two different ways of approaching the same subject. The reading was based off of playing around with scales, compared to the lecture which was basing a solo off the melody, all done by ear with no notation.
To try and sum up my thoughts, this course has really taught me to not just look outside the box but on all sides. Never sit still as an educator, always making an effort to your methods, creativity in the classroom, or creating bonds with students.
- Andrew Robichaud